ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 11, 2009

H1N1 Influenza Confirmed Among Some ELCA Youth Gathering Participants
09-183-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Health officials in North Dakota and South Dakota
have confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza among teenagers and adults who
attended the 2009 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA). About 37,000 teenagers, adult leaders and volunteers
attended the gathering held in New Orleans, July 22-26.
     North Dakota health officials reported that five teenagers and
adults who attended the gathering tested positive for the novel H1N1
influenza. The affected individuals are from the state's Walsh and
Traill counties.
     According to Tracy Miller, epidemiologist, North Dakota Department
of Health Services, 26 individuals reported flu-like symptoms after
returning home from the gathering.
     "Of the 26 individuals who became ill, we collected samples from
five and all five tested positive for the novel H1N1," Miller told the
ELCA News Service Aug. 10. None of the individuals was hospitalized, she
said.
     "This cluster of H1N1 cases reinforces the importance of taking
steps to prevent the spread of influenza, both novel H1N1 and seasonal
influenza," Miller said in an Aug. 10 news release from the North Dakota
Department of Health.
     In South Dakota, there are "three confirmed cases from three
different groups of kids," said Lon Kightlinger, epidemiologist, South
Dakota Department of Health Services. All three cases did not require
hospitalization, he said.
     "Given the prevalence of this virus in the United States today,
Youth Gathering staff prepared a course of action should someone present
flu-like symptoms while in New Orleans," said Heidi Hagstrom, director,
ELCA Youth Gathering.
     "As part of its overall risk management plan, Youth Gathering staff
consulted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," she
said. Staff was advised that should participants have flu-like symptoms
at the Youth Gathering, participants "should seek medical consultation
and then those individuals should be quarantined."
     This information was shared with adult leaders during a mandatory
orientation on the opening day of the gathering, Hagstrom said, adding
that there were no public health advisories in place that should have led
any group to consider not attending the gathering.
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     Information about the Youth Gathering is at
http://www.ELCA.org/gathering on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog